Who Was Gene Hackman's Wife, Betsy Arakawa? How Many Times Was He Married?
Who was Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa? Here's what to know about their romance and what went wrong in his first marriage.
Celebrity
How many times was Gene Hackman married? Here's what to know about his love life and his relationship with his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
by Lauren Weiler
Published on February 27, 2025
Gene Hackman had an incredible acting career with two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and two British Academy Films Awards under his belt. Sadly, he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in February 2025. So, who was Arakawa, and how many times did Hackman tie the knot? Hereâs what to know about Hackmanâs wives.
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003 | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImageGene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were tragically found dead in their home in February 2025. Authorities have no suspicion of foul play.
So, who is Arakawa? Born in Hawaii, she was a pianist before becoming an entrepreneur. Arakawa co-owned a furnishing business in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she and Hackman lived. She preferred to live out of the spotlight despite her husbandâs fame. Hackman told The Irish Independent in 2000 that living in Santa Fe allows him to remain unbothered âby the latest gossip.â He didnât feel he had to stay in Los Angeles to remain successful in his career. âNot that many movies are shot there anymore,â he explained.
Arakawa and Hackman met in the mid-â80s while she worked part-time at a gym in California. They tied the knot in 1991.
The couple appeared passionate about remodeling their home and watching movies. In 2020, Hackman revealed to Empire Magazine that he enjoyed watching âDVDs that my wife rents; we like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.â The publication also revealed that Hackman took up writing, and Arakawa would type what he wrote longhand.
The couple eluded paparazzi photos for 21 years until recently. Photographers last caught Arakawa and Hackman together in March 2024. They had a dinner outing at Pappadeauxâs Seafood Kitchen in New Mexico.
Gene Hackman and Faye Maltese | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesBetsy Arakawa was Gene Hackmanâs second wife. He previously married Faye Maltese, a secretary at Rockefeller Center, in 1956. They had three children: Christopher Allen, 65, Elizabeth Jean, 63, and Leslie Anne Hackman, 58. The couple met in 1955 at a YMCA dance in New York City. Hackman was 25 at the time.
Hackman wasnât famous when he and Maltese fell in love. However, his relationship changed when he attained fame on Broadway and the big screen. He and Maltese divorced in 1986.
âEven though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time,â Hackman admitted to The New York Times in 1989. âThe temptations in that, the money and recognition â it was too much for the poor boy in me. I wasnât able to handle that.â
Hackman also discussed the end of his marriage to Maltese with The Sun Sentinel in 1985. âBy the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman,â the actor verified. âWe just drifted apart . . . We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.â
âPeople do drift away from each other,â he continued. âWe do the best we can.â
Gene Hackman spoke to Larry King in 2004 about death. The actor noted he didnât âhave a lot of fearâ surrounding the subject. Hackman also explained how he dealt with heart issues, including âsevere anginaâ over a decade earlier.
âI try to take care of myself,â he said. âI donât have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away. You know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age . . . I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I donât have a lot of fears.â
Elements of this article were originally reported by Newsweek and DailyMail.com,
For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheetâs Instagram.
Following Gene Hackman's death at age 95, Mel Brooks reminisced about working with him on the Oscar-nominated 1974 comedy 'Young Frankenstein'.
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
It's a celebration at The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards. Stars like Cynthia Erivo, Issa Rae and more shine at the annual event.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy are all returning for the first 'Shrek' film in over 15 years.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
âDespite his age, he was in very good physical condition,â Leslie Anne Hackman said.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Police in Santa Fe, New Mexico, continue to investigate the deaths of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa, a famous musician, whose bodies were discovered by a maintenance worker
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
âHe liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week,â Leslie Hackman told the Daily Mail.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - One person was stabbed at a Market Basket parking lot in Chelsea and was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, officials said.ChelseaRead More
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 - One person was stabbed at a Market Basket parking lot in Chelsea and was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, officials said.ChelseaRead More %23generalhospital) |
|
|
The Daily Record's latest Walk of the Week features a beautiful loch-side house that is not as it seems.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
'Coyote Ugly's cast recalls making the cult classic 25 years ago, at a Q&A screening benefiting Global Empowerment Mission and its efforts surrounding the Los Angeles wildfires. Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, Melania Lynskey and Izabella Miko share behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the set. Diane Warren, who penned the film's songs, and director David McNally also look back on the movie's legacy and lasting impact.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Bonnie and Clyde star welcomed kids Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie with his first wife, Faye Maltese
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa reportedly had him on a 'strict diet' in the years before their mysterious deaths this week.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
â??When you help someone, you help everyone."
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Police believe Lisa Dorrian was murdered after she disappeared on February 28, 2005, having last been seen alive at Ballyhalbert Caravan Park in Northern Ireland .
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Jenna Bush Hager offered an explanation for why she hasn't been wearing her wedding ring and more of Us Weekly's top stories
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Carbon monoxide and toxicology test results are pending, sheriffâs officials said.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.